Should You Send Unsolicited Proposals? Hmmmm!
This is an interesting question.
As you know, I am a big endorser of what I like to refer to as The Flyer Letter. This is nothing more or less than an “idea stimulator” and yes, it is an unsolicited docucment.
Example: “Hey Mr. Smith. Where have the years gone? Maybe it is time for you to take your family on that cruise you have been talking about for years.”
Its purpose is to provide the recipient with slight “whack-in-the-head” in an effort to toss a litle grease on their creative fires. The response you are looking for may sound like, “That sounds like a pretty good idea. I really should give this some serious consideration.”
Putting my money where my mouth is, I recently sent the Event Planner at The Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown an unsolicited packet of information hoping I might position myself as a future guest speaker for upcoming corporate sales meetings. I was not selling or “proposing” anything. I was simply “positioning” myself thereby taking the intiial step in cultivating a future relationship. I emphasized the fact that there would be no need for travel-related expenses since I was a “local.”
“Proposals” by their very nature seek a response of either YES or NO. If “yes,” you lucked out. If “no,” ballgame over. I don’t think it is in your best interest to put an abrupt halt any future potentials. I simply blew in the event planner’s ear reminding her that I was both interested and qualified.
Another thought. If the recipient is not expecting your proposal, assuming they are overwhelmed with work like the rest of us, the chance of them reading it and focusing on your suggestions is less than favorable.
To answer today’s question, I feel an open-ended idea or thought generator makes more sense than sending out unsolicited proposals. (The Flyer Letter)
As always, this is just my opinion. Take it or leave it.
Note: By definition, The Flyer Letter is an idea generator or thought stimulator in which you really don’t care if it resorts with an immediate sale. It is another seed tossed at a prospect in hope that germination will result in time.